let us lay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "let us lay" is not correct in standard English; it should be "let us lie" when referring to reclining or resting.
You can use it in contexts where you are suggesting to someone that you both should recline or rest. Example: "After a long day, let us lie down and relax for a while."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Let us lay our lives bare.

The New York Times

"Let us lay down the ultimatum," he asserted in his keynote speech.

The New York Times

In the first public speech of his career, he declared, "Let us lay the cornerstone of American freedom without fear.

Britannica

At the end choral voices take over, praying for peace and adding, "Let us lay down our guns," but warning, "We can't come home till the last shot's fired".

The New York Times

But in the spirit of "we can't get better until we know what's wrong with us," let us lay the patient out on the table and behold the odd, even contradictory symptoms of malaise: • The U.S. appears to be awash in liquidity.

Forbes

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They eventually let us lie behind a pickup.

The New York Times

Come, let us lie down together and make friends.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Only when she let us lie on our backs for a breathing exercise did I notice that the speakers were wired into the ceiling.

The New York Times

It didn't seem very mind-calming to me, but a couple minutes later, when the yogini let us lie down, I was so relieved I almost nodded off.

Huffington Post

I took it for granted, his dad-ness; the dad-things he did like taking us sledding (letting us lay down on his back as we careened down our icy side lawn) and singing goofy songs on long car rides.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to suggest resting or reclining, always use "let us lie" instead of "let us lay" to ensure grammatical correctness.

Common error

The verb "lay" requires a direct object (something being laid), while "lie" does not. Using "lay" when you mean "lie" (to recline) is a common mistake. Remember: hens lay eggs; people lie down.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let us lay" is a directive or suggestion. Grammatically, it aims to express a proposal for a shared action; however, according to Ludwig AI, the use of "lay" is often incorrect in the context of reclining.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "let us lay" appears in various contexts, it's often flagged as grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI, particularly when the intention is to suggest reclining or resting. The accurate form for that meaning is "let us lie". The phrase is more common in news and media, with a neutral to informal register. When intending to propose rest, "consider using alternatives". Be cautious of the 'lay' vs 'lie' confusion. It’s best to reserve "lay" for scenarios where you’re actively placing something and "lie" when referring to resting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

let us rest

Replaces "lay" with "rest", offering a grammatically correct and semantically similar option for suggesting relaxation.

let us recline

Uses "recline" instead of "lay", providing a more formal and grammatically sound alternative for suggesting a relaxed position.

let's plan

Substitutes the phrase to suggest a course of action rather than physical placement, changing the context entirely.

let's arrange

Similar to "let's plan", this shifts the focus to organizing or setting something in order.

shall we place

Replaces "let us" with the more formal "shall we" and "lay" with "place", which can be used in contexts where arranging objects is discussed.

let's put

A more informal version of "shall we place", suggesting to put something in a specific location.

let's set

Similar to "let's put", offering another way to suggest placing or arranging something.

allow us to position

More formal; suggests giving permission to position something.

permit us to situate

Very formal and less common, indicating granting permission to situate something in a particular spot.

how about we set

Suggests an informal proposal to set or arrange something.

FAQs

When should I use "let us lie" versus "let us lay"?

"Let us lie" is used when suggesting that you and others should recline or rest. "Let us lay" is grammatically questionable but could apply if you're talking about physically placing something, though other constructions would be preferred.

What is the correct way to suggest we should recline or rest?

The correct phrase is "let us lie". You could also use "let us rest" or "let us recline".

Is "let us lay" ever correct?

While technically "lay" requires a direct object, so "let us lay [something]" could be correct in specific scenarios, it's often better to rephrase for clarity. For example, "Let's lay the foundation" is better phrased as "Let's build the foundation."

What are some alternatives to "let us lie"?

Consider using "let's rest", "let's relax", or "let us take a break" as alternative expressions, depending on the desired nuance.